Atlanta Wrestler Killed by Former Local Police Officer

Reginald Folks, known also by his wrestling persona Reggie Rage, is remembered by loved ones as “a good soul” after he was shot and killed in Union City by former Atlanta police officer Koby Minor on May 12. Minor has been charged with murder and aggravated assault.

At the time, Folks was working as a Lyft driver to raise money for his wrestling career when Minor, an APD officer on unpaid administrative leave following an unrelated arrest in December 2023, ordered a ride home.

According to reports, Minor said he heard voices in his ear telling him that Folks was “in a gay fraternity and trying to recruit Minor into it and believed he was getting kidnapped by Folks.

The report also states that “he heard what he thought was another voice in his ear talking to him but did not say what the voice said.”

At the intersection of Stonewall Tell Road and South Fulton Parkway, Minor told police that he attempted to unlock and exit the vehicle. When he was unable to, he shot Folks in the head three times.

Folks trained at AR Fox’s World Wrestling Alliance 4. In a post on social media, WWA4 wrote, “We are heartbroken. Devastated. Reggie Rage, we all love you. You lit up the 4 EVERYTIME you came. Gonna miss you.”

Friend of Folks and fellow wrestler Christian Turner told Atlanta News First about the last day he saw Folks.

“The last time I saw him was Monday. He was very hyped,” Turner said. “He was showing everyone his brand-new shirt because he had made his first professional wrestling shirt.”

Despite what his stage name suggested, Folks was known for being a happy person.

“A lot of little kids looked up to him,” his coach, Thomas Ballester, said. “He was a role model.”

Now, a community mourns the tragic and unexpected loss of a beloved member.

While the circumstances of Minor’s current mental health and December 2023 arrest are not known to the public, his statements to Union City police allude to, at least partially, homophobic motivations. Folks’ sexual orientation is neither confirmed nor relevant to Minor’s actions. However, homophobia and anti-LGBTQ attitudes have long since been perpetuated by law enforcement, and gay panic defense — a legal strategy seeking to “excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendant’s violent reaction,” according to the American Bar Association — is only prohibited in 19 states. Georgia is not one of them.

Sgt. John Chafee, an APD spokesperson, confirmed Minor’s resignation from APD was immediate and effective upon his arrest. He also spoke about the department’s collective efforts to promote safety for the LGBTQ community. He did not speak about the reasons behind Minor’s extended leave of absence nor confirm the contents of his statements to police.

“We feel we have made significant progress ensuring each of our communities feels valued and protected,” Sgt. Chafee said. “Our agency is representative of the diverse city we serve. Many of our officers are members of the LGBTQ+ community, including multiple officers in leadership and senior leadership positions, as well as our Chief of Police.”